Spinning to see what I backed into, I realize it’s a mirror, and before I can add seven years of bad luck to an impressive list of this morning’s achievements, I reach out to catch it. But instead of a cold surface, my fingers dig into an arm. An arm that belongs to the man that was just behind me.
I never believed in paranormal activity until that point.
“You good, baby?”
I do one of those cartoon double takes before realizing Alpha version 2.0 is wearing a black shirt instead of a white one. His voice is lower, lazier, but it’s a ploy to drag you closer until he can get you. I’d put money on him being the devilish one.
I look up at his ebony hair, expecting small curling horns on his forehead as proof, but get sidetracked, my thoughts blitzed by his wicked smirk.
“Matty, who’s this?”
The white-shirted Alpha answers. “She saved Matty’s life.”
“You need to nearly die more often.” The devil has an alluring chuckle—of course, he does. Like black magic, it dances over my skin, making me shiver.
I manage to let go of his arm before I take a few small, measured steps, to make sure I don’t trip on anything or anybody else, and the four of us end up forming a perfect square. At least, this way, I can see the three of them.
“Speaking of dying, I need someone to help me out. But like I said in the car with our guys, we need to talk.”
“About?” I interrupt.
“You want a drink before we start talking about what you’re hiding under my jacket? I mean, I probably won’t bleed out if you want to talk first. I'm just concerned about infection,” Matteo says, aiming for helpless, but I’m catching on to his acting skills.
“You got shot?” The guy in the black shirt laughs. And, like my first assessment, the way he laughs is pure evil. Mybody reacts again, this time with goose bumps. I thank god for Hannah suggesting I use the scent blockers and suppressor tabs. If I were an unmedicated Omega in the presence of these three, I’d be doing a lot worse than I am now.
One thought of Jana, and I panic. “Shit!” I hiss.
Almost as quick as I flipped, they do too. The mood twists again as the three of them take a step closer, and instead of being stalked, being looked at like they want to eat me up or torture me with their endless teasing, they get very serious, and very protective, in no time at all.
“What?” they say as one, all taking a step closer.
“Stop!” I hold my hand up. “Stop walking. Stop talking. Maybe stop breathing… And you try not to die.” I pin Matteo with a glare, stopping him from moving, before asking nicely, “Did you happen to grab my phone?”
Matteo wets his lips, and already, I see him lining me up for something. “In my pocket. I can’t move, though.” He winces. “Feel free to dig through my pants and see what you can find, like last time.”
Black-shirt guy next to me laughs, dirtier this time. “What happened last time, Matty?”
“She totally felt me up.”
“I did not,” I squawk, blazing red like a tomato. Before this can get any stranger, I cross over to him and hold my hand out expectantly. “Please, I need to call Jana.”
“Who’s Jana?” black-shirt Alpha asks.
He glares expectantly, and since it’s not a huge secret, I don’t have a problem answering. “My boss. She and her pack will be worried if I don’t call or check in.”
Then his twin starts his interrogation. “You live with them?”
“Not your business,” I offer blandly.
“Wrong.” He scoffs, tugging on the sleeve of his white shirt. “Everything about you is my business, now that you’re in my home. Answer the question—do you live with them?”
I consider staring him down, but that would be like trying to climb Mt. Everest in a pair of flip-flops. Damn near impossible, and dangerous. The way he looks at me has the words forming on my lips before I can stop them.
“I borrow the use of a room they own. It’s above the restaurant where I work. Who are you, by the way?”
“Valentine De Luca.” He grins like a shark before pointing to his brother, acting like a condescending prick when he points out the obvious connection they share. “My twin is Dante. And the three of us are Pack De Luca.”
Figuring that’s enough sharing, I hitcalland walk into a room adjoining the living room, one that is a lot lighter and a lot less heavy with their presence.
